KADAMPANAD ST. THOMAS ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL




               St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Kadampanad, popularly known as Kadampanad is an ancient church of Saint Thomas Christians situated in the Central Travancore village of Kadampanad, in Pathanamthitta District. This Church belongs to the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church under the Diocese of Adoor-Kadampanad.

History

                     Kadampanad church is one of the oldest church of St.Thomas Christians in Kerala. Mar Thoma Sleeha (St.Thomas), an Apostle of Jesus Christ, came to India in AD 52 and established a Christian community in Kerala. There is evidence that he established eight churches (known as Ezharapallikal). One among them was at Chayal (Nilackel), situated in the western ghats. In the beginning of fourth century, a group of Syrian Christians from Chayal migrated to Kadampanad. They consecrated a church at Kadampanad in accordance with Syrian tradition and rituals in AD 325, in the name of Mar Thoma Sleeha as their patron saint. As time went by, a strong Syrian Christian community flourished in the vicinity of this church. People irrespective of their cast and creed visit the church with prayers and offerings.
                  This church has been rebuild several times. As per tradition, the re-constructed took place roughly around AD 800, AD 1200, AD 1800, AD 1912 and at last in the year of 1952. There has been a subsequent migration of Syrian Christians from Nilackel during the period of 12th Century and later at the early half of the 14th Century due to demolition of Nilackel Church (supposedly due to floods). This church is considered to be the mother church of many parishes in Central Travancore. The descendants of those who settled down in Kadampanad,later migrated to places like Mavelikkara, Kayamkulam, Kollakadavu, Adoor, Kozhenchery, Kaippattoor, Sooranadu, Kallada, Koodal etc., settled there and constructed new churches.
          Saint Geevarghese Mar Gregorios (Parumala Thirumeni) has glorified Kadampanad church by his presence in the year 1895 and overseen the progress of this church.
H.H.Marthoma III
                   Kadampanad Church is blessed to contain the tomb of H.H.Mar Thoma III, also known as "Kadampanad Vallyappuppan". Marthoma III was born in Pakalomattom family, one of the oldest families at Kuravilangad. He was the third Mar Thoma from Pakalomattom family and the Metropolitan of the Syrian church. This historical and spiritual leader of the Malankara Nasranees deceased on 21 April 1688 while he was in this church and on 22 April 1688 was buried at the sanctum sanctorum of the then St. Thomas Valiyapally, the present St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral.

Marthoman Pilgrim Center

The Cathedral was declared as the "Marthoman Pilgrim Center" on 7 March 2010 by His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Didymos I.

For more details 

http://www.kadampanadstthomascathedral.com/